Abstract: A leguminous food product which generally retains the shape of the legume from which it was made is formed from a variety of legumes such as pinto beans, red beans, black beans, navy beans, kidney beans, lentils and peas, etc. The leguminous food product is somewhat crisp and crunchy when chewed. It may be seasoned or flavored with salt, herbs, spices, etc. to achieve a variety of different desired tastes. The leguminous food product provides a nutritional source of protein and fiber which is low in fat and calories. The leguminous food product is formed by preconditioning, cooking, chilling, dehydrating, and enrobing the legumes.

Abstract: A method for forming a dehydrated leguminous food product for reconstitution into a ready-to-eat food product. The method includes the steps of cleaning the food product, removing all unwanted material, tempering the food product until it is partially hydrated, steam cooking the food product in a low pressure steam environment, smoothly crushing the food product between at least one pair of rolls, dehydrating the food product, and breaking up the food product to a desired size. The food product produced by the present method has a moisture content of approximately 4% to 14%, and preferably 7%. The product formed by the present method is instantly reconstitutable and has the color, appearance, texture, aroma, and consistency of conventionally prepared pea soup.

Abstract: A method of preparing a reconstitutable bean product containing a quantity of whole beans in combination with crushed or mashed beans is disclosed. The inventive method includes the initial steps of inspecting, de-stoning, cleaning, and washing the supply of whole beans. Subsequently, the whole beans are tempered for a prescribed period and are thereafter divided into two sub-quantities, one sub-quantity destined to be crushed or mashed and the other sub-quantity destined to remain whole. The separate sub-quantities of beans are then hydrated, cooked, dehydrated, combined with secondary ingredients, and packaged to provide an easily reconstitutable refried bean product containing both whole and crushed beans. The sub-quantity of beans destined to be crushed is slightly undercooked, while the sub-quantity of beans destined to remain whole is fully cooked. At the option of the operator, the sub-quantity of beans destined to be crushed may be initially split prior to hydration and cooking.

Abstract: Processes for producing a dried leguminosae to form an instantly reconstitutable product having the appearance texture and consistency of conventionally prepared commestibles are disclosed. In the production of these commestibles, the leguminosae are cooked in a manner to maintain the skin generally intact and subsequently non-comminutively pressed to minimize grittiness and graininess of the resultant product. The pressed product is of sufficient thickness to facilitate rapid dehydration and rapid reconstitution to provide a resultant reconstituted product which assimilates the organoleptic characteristics of conventionally prepared non-dehydrated product.